A medical case report has surfaced that reveals a 29-year old man ruptured the tendon in his thumb by excessively gaming on his smartphone gaming. This is not a joke, you are not a joke — this is as real as the World of Warcraft player dying after a 19-hour gaming binge.
The unnamed 29-year old man played Candy Crush Saga "all day for 6 to 8 weeks," his obsessive playing was so intense that he didn't feel any pain until the tendon ruptured. Typically, as your tendons swell you feel pain — think of carpal tunnel, you definitely feel that.
How could the man's focus be so intense? The doctors believe that because Candy Crush is "highly pleasurable" it can "provide a plausible explanation for why the patient did not feel pain from his injury." Basically, the guy was so addicted to the game that he felt nothing – no pain, nada.
It's a surprise that he even stopped playing and went to doctor — his other hand was just fine.
So, one man ruptures the tendon in his thumb playing an awful game and now doctors are looking at video games as a way to treat pain:
"Research might consider whether video games have a role in clinical pain management and as nonpharmacologic alternatives during uncomfortable or painful medical procedures. They may also have a role in reducing stress. It may be interesting to ascertain whether various games differ in their ability to reduce the perception of pain."
While the doctors take note that it could help, they also recognize that it could cause harm as well, "The potential for video games to reduce pain perception raises clinical and social considerations about excessive use, abuse, and addiction."
Listen people, game in moderation. Don't explode your tendons just to beat a level.
[Polygon]
